9/15/2020
Ransomville Speedway
RANSOMVILLE DRIVERS FINDING SUCCESS AWAY FROM HOME IN 2020
Many drivers have been making the Ransomville Speedway community proud during this racing season affected by the pandemic. A number of “Big R” regulars have hit the road in search of track time, and some have found victory lane along the way.
Reigning Krown Undercoating 358 Modified track champion Erick Rudolph, who is no stranger to traveling the Dirt Modified circuit, has run everywhere from Louisiana to Vermont since late May. Rudolph has racked up 11 wins so far in 2020 at tracks ranging from Land of Legends Raceway in Canandaigua to Utica-Rome to Can-Am Speedway. Four of his victories have come in BRP Modified Tour events, including the Lou Blaney Memorial at Sharon Speedway in July.
Not to be outdone by his Ransomville rival, Mat Williamson has also scored 11 checkered flags this season. Williamson has had the rare opportunity to compete on both sides of the border in 2020 thanks to the different teams he drives for, including the Wendt’s Propane #6 358 Modified. He jumped out of the box this season with two wins at the DIRTCar Nationals at Volusia in February. Since then he’s won at Merrittville, Humberstone, Granby, Albany-Saratoga, Cornwall and two wins at the Devil's Bowl Speedway in Vermont.
Both Rudolph and Williamson will likely do battle throughout DIRTCar Oktoberfast, which will take part October 6-11 at six different New York short tracks. Every event will be streamed live at DirtVision.com.
Chad Brachmann followed the BRP Modified Tour this summer and finished fifth in the final standings. The Sunflowers of Sanborn #3 picked up one BRP Tour victory at Michaels Mercer Raceway in Pennsylvania on August 8. Phil Vigneri III, Rick Richner, Ryan Susice and Greg Martin also made starts with the BRP Series.
A couple short tracks in Pennsylvania that run 358 Modifieds experienced a Ransomville invasion of sorts this summer. Greg Martin scored two wins at the 4/10-mile Tri-City Raceway Park in Franklin, PA while Nick Joy and Rudolph each scored one win. Steve Lewis, Jr. earned his first career Modified victory at Hidden Valley Speedway, which is a 1/4-mile bullring in Clearfield, PA. Lewis, Andy Jankowiak, Phil Vigneri III and Brachmann also scored top ten finishes at Tri-City.
Some of our Investor’s Service Sportsman and Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stock drivers headed east to Batavia to run at the Genesee Speedway. Cameron Tuttle notched one win this summer while on his way to the Sportsman track championship. Kyle Inman led the division with four wins while Zach George won twice and Brett Senek earned one win. Kyle Richner, Jonathan Reid, Clayton Cain, Jordan Moden, AJ Custodi and Noah Walker were also Genesee Sportsman regulars.
There were a number of Ransomville connections in Genesee’s Novice Sportsman division. Former go-kart competitor Dylan Duhow won two features and topped the point standings. Tyler Vinson also scored two wins while Brandon Close, Scott Wolfe, Orval Harris and Brian Monahan were also victorious.
Last season Cole Susice swept the Ransomville and Genesee Mini Stock track titles, and he was the title hunt once again this year with two feature wins and a runner-up points finish. Chris Leone also scored a Mini Stock win at Batavia while Ashley Harbison, Jeff Wynes, Matt Hornquist and Chris Miller made starts in the class this year.
The Land of Legends Raceway has also been a popular Saturday night spot for Ransomville drivers. Erick Rudolph finished second to Larry Wight in the Modified points standings. Matt Farnham, Robbie Johnston, James Sweeting, Susice and Brachmann also made Modified starts at LOLR.
Garrison Krentz earned a Sportsman feature win at Land of Legends and finished fourth in points in a very competitive division. Zach George, Tyler Vinson, Andrew Smith, Jordan Moden, Brett Senek, Brain Harris, Cody Wolfe, Sam Junkin, Brett Martin, Scott Kerwin and Bubby Pawlak also made appearances at Canandaigua. On the full-fendered side of things, Jaren Israel finished in the top three of all three of his Hobby Stock starts at LOLR.
Across the border in Ontario, the 358 Modified and Sportsman teams that typically compete stateside at Ransomville on Fridays have been busy competing at Merrittville, Humberstone, Cornwall and Brockville. Mat Williamson and Gary Lindberg each racked up two Modified wins a piece at Merrittville while Mike Bowman and Pete Bicknell have been in the hunt at events across the province.
We want to wish all of our drivers good luck throughout the rest of 2020 and look forward to having you back at the “Big R” next season.
Submitted By: Dave Buchanan